U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week ordered the Pentagon to suspend a shipment of air-defense missiles, artillery shells and other arms bound for Ukraine, NBC News reported, citing three U.S. officials. The unilateral decision, issued on 2 July, surprised the State Department, officials in Kyiv, European allies and members of Congress.
A review by the Pentagon’s Joint Staff had concluded that releasing the package—including dozens of Patriot interceptors, 155-millimeter artillery rounds, Hellfire missiles, GMLRS rockets, Stinger and AIM air-to-air missiles and grenade launchers—would not push U.S. stockpiles below required readiness levels. Despite the finding, Hegseth, backed by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, halted the delivery, arguing that inventories were too low. Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, called the justification “disingenuous,” and lawmakers from both parties are reviewing whether the pause breaches legislation mandating security assistance to Ukraine.
It is the third time since February that Hegseth has frozen U.S. military aid to Ukraine; earlier stoppages in February and May were reversed after a few days. The White House said the action forms part of a broader review of munitions stockpiles, yet critics warn the delay weakens Kyiv as Russia escalates missile and drone strikes. Some of the U.S. weapons had already been loaded onto trucks in Poland when the stop order arrived, according to officials.
New: Hegseth halted weapons for Ukraine while claiming the aid would jeopardize U.S. readiness—an assertion disputed by military analysis…It was the third time Hegseth suspended Ukraine aid on his own.
🚫 The decision to suspend U.S. military aid to Ukraine was made solely by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, without broader consultations, according to NBC News.
The publication notes that Pete Hegseth made the decision unilaterally for the third time. He was supported by the head
NOT A GOOD LOOK: NBC News reports that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth unilaterally halted a UKR bound shipment of Patriot interceptors and air-to-air missiles which were already loaded for delivery in Poland.
The move blindsided Congress, the State Department, Kyiv,
🚨 So Pete Hegseth stopped weapons shipments to Ukraine, even after the Pentagon itself said we had enough stock and readiness wouldn’t be impacted?
Let me get this straight: we’ve got the weapons, we’ve got the green light from military experts, but Hegseth slammed the brakes
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth froze weapons aid to Ukraine despite Pentagon analysis showing no risk to U.S. readiness. The decision blindsided the State Department, Ukraine, European allies, and Congress, prompting demands for an explanation from the Pentagon.
The head of the Pentagon, on his own initiative, suspended military supplies to Kiev — NBC News
The decision to stop the supply of certain weapons stunned the US State Department, members of Congress, officials in Kiev and European allies, according to an investigation by NBC News.
According to
